Director Comments On New Film Project
The Lion, the Witch, and… Pink Floyd?
That’s the new frontier for The Chronicles of Narnia, as IMAX CEO Rich Gelfond unveiled a surprisingly radical direction for The Magician’s Nephew during IMAX’s first-ever Investors Day in New York. What was expected to be a strategic update quickly morphed into a bold announcement: Greta Gerwig’s long-awaited adaptation of C.S. Lewis’s Narnia prequel is heading for a full-blown, psychedelic reinvention — complete with a rock-and-roll soundtrack and an IMAX-first release strategy.
The headline detail? The music. According to Gelfond, Gerwig’s version of The Magician’s Nephew will ditch the sweeping orchestral fantasy norms in favor of a “contemporary, rock-influenced sound” reminiscent of Pink Floyd and The Doors.
Mark Ronson, the genre-bending producer behind Barbie’s hit soundtrack, is scoring the film — a move that all but confirms Gerwig is steering Lewis’s classic in a radical, stylized direction. Producer Amy Pascal’s 2024 quote — calling the movie “all about rock and roll” — was initially met with skepticism. Now, it seems she was underselling it.
Gelfond leaned into the hype, framing the film as a generational shift. “This is not your mother’s or your grandmother’s Narnia,” he said, emphasizing how the soundtrack, scale, and visual spectacle are tailored for a modern audience — and specifically for IMAX. With a 28-day IMAX-exclusive theatrical window (a first for a Netflix-backed film of this scale), Gerwig’s Narnia isn’t just another fantasy reboot. It’s a deliberate swing at creating a “cultural event.”
Filmed at Cardington Studios — the largest soundstage in Europe — the production is reportedly massive in scope, employing hundreds of crew and elaborate set designs across multiple locations.
While footage remains tightly guarded, a brief clip shown at the investor event was enough for Gelfond to declare that Gerwig’s passion “leaps off the screen.” He was effusive in his praise, suggesting that the partnership between Netflix, IMAX, and Gerwig could “change the world.”
Bold words, certainly. But in a cinematic era oversaturated with sequels and safe IP plays, The Magician’s Nephew is shaping up to be something else entirely — a hybrid of high fantasy and countercultural cool, draped in mysticism and electric guitars. It’s a gamble. It’s a statement. And if Gelfond is right, it’s about to redraw the map of franchise filmmaking.
One thing’s for certain: when the wardrobe opens this time, it won’t be to the same old Narnia.